Growing Solar Community™ Launch – In May, 2008, Independent Energy Systems launched our new Growing Solar Community™ program, taking an innovative and fresh approach to combating unnecessary fossil fuel use by aiming to increase solar powered energy systems in the Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay area. For each referral that results in a new solar system being installed by IES, a contribution of $250 from IES will be placed into the Growing Solar Fund™ which will then be used for charitable solar power projects that the Growing Solar Community™ chooses to support.

Earth Day Santa Cruz, April 2008 – Independent Energy Systems had a blast sponsoring Santa Cruz’ Earth Day celebration powered by the sun in downtown Santa Cruz. Our solar powered trailer provided enough solar energy to power the event stage, as well as a number of other booths, and the sun provided us all with solar-baked organic cookies from our sun ovens! IES staff members were present throughout the event to educate the public about the many benefits of Going Solar in the Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay region.

Mount Madonna Earth Day Festival, April 2008 – IES staff took place in yet another great and Green community event at Mount Madonna’s Earth Day Festival in the sunny Santa Cruz mountains, powering the stage and other vendor booths with our one of a kind IES solar powered event trailer. Along with solar power, IES contributed our famous solar baked cookies for the crowd as well as our solar powered water fountain for kids of all ages to enjoy. The event helped encourage community members to Go Solar in the Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay area with IES.

IES Lead Installer Helps the Galapagos Islands Go Solar! – Augusto Lima, one of the talented lead solar installers at Independent Energy Systems, was invited to take part in three solar installation projects on the Galapagos Islands this past spring and fall. Operating on a grant from the E8, an entity of the United Nations that manages energy resources, the project was part of a larger program to introduce renewable energies onto these remote, ecological islands. Augusto joined forces with other participants to install a 5 kW solar system at a local school, as well as 7.5 kW at their power plant on San Cristobal Island. He then lead a one-day training and lecture workshop for local electricians on solar installation. The team was honored in a ceremony with representatives from the United Nations.

In Defense of Sea Turtles, We Travel to Baja – Dr. Wallace "J." Nichols, President of the International Sea Turtle Association, was so impressed with our solar powered trailer that he asked Independent Energy Systems' President, Bob Evans, if the solar trailer could power the International Sea Turtle Association's annual symposium in Loreto, Mexico. We gladly stepped up to the challenge! The solar trailer was driven down to Baja in January 2008 to power the event where over 1,000 sea turtle researchers and conservationists gathered to share the latest news and report their progress on sea turtle monitoring and conservation. Solar energy was a great hit, as event organizers made a huge effort to ensure the symposium was as eco-friendly as possible. Contact us if you have events you'd like to solar power using our mobile solar trailer. 

Step it Up – On this “National Day of Climate Action” in November of 2007, Independent Energy Systems further supported the movement to stop global warming by taking part in Santa Cruz’ own Step it Up event, one of 1400 events taking place across the nation uniting a common goal to decrease global warming. The IES solar powered trailer was on site to power the event using the world’s most renewable energy source – the sun, encouraging community members to Go Solar in the Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay area with IES.

Race Against Global Warming, Sept. 29, 2007 – Independent Energy Systems’ unveiled our new solar powered trailer at it’s first public event to power the festivities at Santa Cruz’ Race Against Global Warming event. IES staff educated the public about solar power at the all-day Climate Expo, as well as took part in the 5K run/walk, raising funds for local charities dedicated to the fight against global warming, as well as awareness about the benefits of Going Solar in the Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay area with IES. Go team!

Making of The IES Solar Trailer – Independent Energy Systems makes solar power mobile as we create our new self contained solar power trailer with a solar array of 1,260 Watts from 6 SunPower 210 Watt solar modules. The trailer will allow us to power local events around the Santa Cruz/Monterey region, and was completed just in time to solar power the stage for the Race Against Global Warming event held in Santa Cruz.

IES Spreads the Word With the Film The 11th Hour – On Thursday, Sept. 6, 2007, IES president and owner Bob Evans rented out the Del Mar theatre for a private showing of Leonardo DiCaprio’s environmental film, The 11th Hour. As part of IES’ ongoing efforts to increase public awareness about environmental topics such as global warming, and solar energy’s place in the renewable energy movement, IES invited 500 of our closest friends and clients in the Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay community to share in the belief that education and awareness are critical tools in addressing environmental issues.

Greenspace Seminars – (various times) IES presented a number of seminars for the local Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay community relating to solar and renewable energy at the Greenspace location in Santa Cruz. The “Solar Incentives” seminar addressed the topic of government incentives and new legislation concerning solar energy and increased affordability, while the “Go Solar” seminar taught attendees about how to finance solar energy systems for your home or business project.

IES Rents out the Nick, June 2007 - Bob Evans, President of Independent Energy Systems, was inspired to take action after seeing the new documentary film “An Inconvenient Truth” at the Nickelodeon theatre.  Concerned that the movie was not getting enough attention, and moved to share its message, Bob decided to rent out the entire theatre for the 7pm show on June 29th and invite Independent Energy Systems’ customers and friends in the community to see it together. This event brought IES' environmental committment to the forefront of our local Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay community.